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Anticounterfeiting Quick Response Code with Emission Color of Invisible Metal-Organic Frameworks as Encoding
Yong-Mei Wang1, Xue-Tao Tian1, Hui Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, College of Chemistry , Nankai University , Tianjin , 300071 , China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 9, 2018
Summary
Researchers developed novel invisible fluorescent quick response (QR) codes using nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs) for advanced anticounterfeiting. This strategy offers enhanced security through unique, color-coded information storage invisible in daylight.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Counterfeiting poses a significant global challenge, necessitating innovative anticounterfeiting solutions.
- Current strategies often lack the sophistication to combat advanced counterfeit operations.
- There is a growing demand for covert and multi-layered security features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel anticounterfeiting strategy utilizing invisible fluorescent quick response (QR) codes.
- To develop a system where emission color serves as the primary information storage unit.
- To create a practical and highly secure encoding method for product authentication.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of red, green, and blue (RGB) light-emitting nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (NMOFs).
- Formulation of NMOFs into inks for inkjet printing of colorful, information-encoding boxes.
- Development of a single ultraviolet (UV) excitation source (275 nm) for all emissions and invisibility under daylight.
- Integration of positioning boxes for accurate QR code pattern recognition.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of full-color emissions by mixing trichromatic NMOFs inks.
- Demonstration of adjustable information capacity through the number of light-emitting boxes and infinite emission color combinations.
- Confirmation of QR code invisibility under daylight due to UV excitation.
- Validation of the multi-faceted anticounterfeiting approach through ink composition, invisibility, inkjet printing, and data capacity.
Conclusions:
- The developed invisible fluorescent QR codes offer a robust and versatile anticounterfeiting solution.
- The use of RGB-emitting NMOFs and inkjet printing provides a practical method for creating complex security features.
- This novel strategy significantly enhances product security and combats the global issue of counterfeiting.
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